Porisma

Worked solution

Reflect a line using its fixed intersection and one reflected point

Given l:r=(10,4,2)+λ(9,−1,0)l:\mathbf r=(10,4,2)+\lambda(9,-1,0), λ∈R\lambda\in\mathbb R, and Π:r⋅(3,−1,2)=2\Pi:\mathbf r\cdot(3,-1,2)=2, find

(i) the point of intersection of l and Π\Pi;

(ii) a vector equation of the reflection of l in Π\Pi.

CJC · Discussion · Question 5

Answer

P=(1,5,2)P=(1,5,2); reflected line r=(1,5,2)+t(3,−3,8)\mathbf r=(1,5,2)+t(3,-3,8).

(i) Intersect the line and plane

The line point is (10+9λ,4−λ,2)(10+9\lambda,4-\lambda,2). Substitution gives 30+27λ−4+λ+4=230+27\lambda-4+\lambda+4=2, so λ=−1\lambda=-1 and P=(1,5,2)P=(1,5,2).

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(ii) Reflect the base point through its normal foot

Choose A=(10,4,2)A=(10,4,2) on l. The normal line is r=(10,4,2)+s(3,−1,2)\mathbf r=(10,4,2)+s(3,-1,2). Its foot F satisfies 30+9s−4+s+4+4s=230+9s-4+s+4+4s=2, giving s=−2s=-2, F=(4,6,−2)F=(4,6,-2). Thus A′=2F−A=(−2,8,−6)A\prime=2F-A=(-2,8,-6).

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(ii) Join the reflected point to the unchanged intersection

P lies on the mirror plane, so is fixed by reflection. A direction of the image line is P−A′=(3,−3,8)P-A\prime=(3,-3,8). Therefore r=(1,5,2)+t(3,−3,8)\mathbf r=(1,5,2)+t(3,-3,8), t∈Rt\in\mathbb R. Changing the sign of the direction gives the same line.

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Normal section through the mirror plane: P is fixed on the plane; original line joins P to A, reflected line joins P to A prime; F is the midpoint of A and A prime and AF is normal to the plane.
Normal section through the mirror plane: P is fixed on the plane; original line joins P to A, reflected line joins P to A prime; F is the midpoint of A and A prime and AF is normal to the plane.
Normal section through the mirror plane: P is fixed on the plane; original line joins P to A, reflected line joins P to A prime; F is the midpoint of A and A prime and AF is normal to the plane.

Common mistakes

Reflect both the point and the direction consistently, or use two image points.

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